The team selected Sanders with the 53rd overall pick in last month’s NFL Draft. The second-round running back may be asked to play a big role during his first year in Philadelphia, as the team looks to find consistency within its tailback committee.

With veteran running back Jordan Howard playing on the final year of his rookie contract, the Eagles may try to split his workload with Sanders. While the rookie running back needs some time to develop as a blocker and receiver, the Eagles should feel confident in his ability as a runner right away.

“Running back production is incredibly dependent on the offensive line, and Sanders has that edge in a big way over Josh Jacobs. The Eagles’ offensive line was ranked top 10 in the NFL last season in terms of run blocking, and they added tackle Andre Dillard in Round 1. Sanders wasn’t too far a cry from last year’s Rookie of the Year either, with an 83.1 rushing grade compared to Saquon Barkley’s 84.1 in his last season at Penn State.”

The PFF projection isn’t completely off-base. The Eagles have one of the better offensive lines in football and Sanders should benefit from the unit’s run-blocking ability. Sanders should also receive plenty of room to run due to the team’s dynamic receiving weapons on the outside. With DeSean Jackson’s deep-speed ability, opposing teams will have to dedicate safety coverage to his side of the field. That threat should open up space in the tackle box for Sanders and Howard.

The issue with the projection is that Howard is likely to handle the bulk of the carries early on during the season. While Sanders may finish with more touches at the conclusion of the campaign, Howard’s workload will directly impact the rookie’s output and importance. With several rookie quarterbacks set to play this season, it may be hard for a rotational running back to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honor.